Media Headline Fails as Israeli Policeman Stabbed

UPDATE

Following the publication of this critique, ABC News has removed the word “reported,” both in its headline and opening paragraph. While a welcome improvement, this still fails to address the primary issue of the headline that still emphasizes the Palestinian as a victim of an attack that he perpetrated.

Not good enough ABC News.

 

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An Israeli border policeman was critically wounded in a stabbing attack outside Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday. Before collapsing, he was able to shoot the Palestinian responsible. Both the officer and the terrorist are currently hospitalized in critical condition.

This is the headline from Australia’s ABC News:

 

 

And this from Sky News:

 

 

In both cases, the emphasis is on the shooting of the Palestinian despite the fact that the main focus of the story should be on the stabbing attack. The effect is to turn the Israeli into the aggressor despite the clear fact that it was the Palestinian who initiated the incident.

In the case of ABC News, the headline includes the description of the Palestinian as a “teenager,” which is a deliberate ploy to induce sympathy and paint him as a victim. In fact, the Israeli officer is only 20 years old himself.

And why has the Palestinian “reportedly” stabbed an Israeli? There is no argument over the details of the attack. So if it was a “reported” stabbing, then surely it should also be a “reported” shooting. The headline effectively places doubt on whether the Palestinian was actually involved in the attack before he was shot, something that is also repeated in the opening paragraph of the article.

Once again, shoddy headlines distort the reality of the story and Israel is the aggressor while a Palestinian is a victim.

 

[sc:graybox ]You can register a complaint with ABC News through its online feedback form – http://www.abc.net.au/news/contact/feedback/

[sc:graybox ]Sky News can be contacted by emailing [email protected]

 

[sc:bottomsignup ]